Patent Application
20070295570
In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.
Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.
Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.
In the illustrated embodiment, the container 100 further includes a first container handle 124 slidably coupled to the back wall 110, a second container handle 126 fixedly coupled to the first side wall 112, and a wheel 128 fixedly coupled to the bottom wall 116 for moving the container 100. In operation, the first container handle 124 is extended, downward force may be applied to the first container handle 124, and the first container handle 124 acts as a lever to tilt the container 100, and the container 100 is pulled to a desired location. In one embodiment, the handle may be biased on an extended or compressed mode. In operation, the second container handle 126 can be used to lift, pull, or push the container 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, the container 100 further includes a drawer 130, slidably coupled to the exterior shell 105, above the bottom wall 116. The drawer 130 has a drawer face 134 and a handle 132 fixedly coupled to the drawer face 134. Advantageously, the drawer 130 will allow for additional storage. In particular, the drawer 130 allows for storage of items that the traveler may want to keep hidden from view when the container 100 is in an open mode, for providing a shelf-type system of storage. Further, the drawer 130 may be independent from the compressed and extended modes, such that when the container is in the compressed mode, the drawer is not compressed. Still further, the drawer 130 may merely be a substantially non-compressible cavity. Advantageously, a user may place articles that may be sensitive to compression in the drawer 130. In operation, the drawer 130 is slidably extended from the exterior shell 105, items are inserted into the drawer 130, and the drawer 130 is slidably inserted into the exterior shell 105.
Looking to
In one non-limiting example, actuator button 148 may enable the actuatable securing device 154 to be locked into a compressed and/or extended position. For example, the actuator button 148 may be fixedly coupled to a flexible cord within the actuatable securing device 154, and the flexible cord may be fixedly coupled to springing protrusions which selectively couple to a plurality of vertical positions along the track 122. For example, when the actuator button 148 is pressed, the flexible cord shortens and pulls the springing protrusions from the vertical positions, allowing the actuatable securing device 154 to slidably extend and/or compress the storage space 156. For example, when the actuator button 148 is released, the flexible cord assumes its original length, and the springing protrusions protrude into the vertical positions, locking the actuatable securing device 154 into a compressed and/or extended position.
In addition, illustrated in
In operation, downward force may be applied to the top actuatable securing device 312, compressing the side actuatable securing device 314 into a compressed position 320 and a further compressed position 330. Alternatively, upward force may be applied to the top actuatable securing device 312, extending the side actuatable securing device 314 into an extended position 310. In one embodiment, the locking member 316 may have a male portion which is selectably coupleable to a female portion of the track 122.
In one non-limiting example, the top actuatable securing device 312 and side actuatable securing device 314 may house a coupling between the actuator button 148 (see
In operation, when the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 is compressed, the flexible walls 432, 434, 436, 442, 444, and 446 bend and/or fold in substantially an accordion fashion, and the middle shelves 430 and 440 and top planar member 142, remain substantially parallel to the bottom shelf 114, and clothing and other items are secured. When the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 is extended, the flexible walls 432, 434, 436, 442, 444, and 446 extend so that walls 434 and 444 are substantially parallel to walls 436 and 446, and the middle shelves 430 and 440 and top planar member 142 are substantially parallel to the bottom shelf 114. Also, when the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 is extended, walls 432, 434 and 436 and walls 442, 444, and 446 form larger cavities for storing clothing and other items. In addition, the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 may be removed from the container 100. For example, the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 could be as described by FIG. 9 of U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2006/0000681, by Barker et al., which is incorporated by reference herein.
It is envisioned that in one embodiment of the invention, the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 may be removed from the exterior shell 105. Accordingly, a user may be enabled to wash the shelving unit 114, 142, 430, and 440 separately from the exterior shell.
In operation, the storage space 156 is compressed, and the removable cover 214 encloses the storage space 156 and the compression space 610, so that the exterior of the container 100 retains is size and shape during transportation. For example, compressing the storage space 156 secures items stored inside the container 100 and prevents clothing from becoming wrinkled. Also, since the shape and size of the exterior of the container 100 remains intact, even when the storage space 156 is compressed, the container 100 is safely and easily transported as the container 100 does not have any protruding exterior edges.
It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
For example, one skilled in the art would know that a variety of mechanisms could be used to selectably couple the top planar member 142 to the exterior shell 105 at a plurality of positions along the track 122, such as, a telescoping unit, a rack and pinion, and other such mechanisms known in the art.
Additionally, although the figures illustrate a single drawer 130, there may be a plurality of drawers or no drawer at all.
It is also envisioned that the brackets 152 and 410 may be partially and/or completely removable.
It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. While generally, the container 100 may be substantially rectangular, the container 100 may have various shapes and sizes, including, but not limited to: square, circular, oblong, oval, and trapezoidal.
While a particular configuration is illustrated, especially with regard to the track mechanism, it is understood that the devices which may be used to allow for compression and/or extension of the shelves is plethoric. Non-limiting examples include: friction fitting; accordion folding structure (scissor-type scaffolding); multiple tracks; single track; and telescoping pole.
Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials. For example, the exterior shell 105 of the container 100 could be made from a variety of textiles, metals, and other materials known in the art. One skilled in the art would also know that the mechanical components of the container 100 could be constructed from a variety of metals, plastics, and other materials known in the art, and that the flexible member could be composed of textiles and other materials known in the art to be flexible.
Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
